PPTC is gearing up for another great Al Goldstein Summer Speed Series presented by JackRabbit! The 2014 Summer Speed Series 5K races will be held every other Wednesday evening starting on May 21, followed by June 4 and 18; July 2, 16 and 30; and August 13 and 28. Online registration for the entire 2014 series or for any of the 8 scheduled races is available here.

Please continue to read for important changes to the staging area, course, and registration process.

For at least the first few races of the series, registration, bag check, and the post race will be at The Peristyle, adjacent to the finish line. The starting line is just on the main drive in the park near where Parkside Ave. intersects Ocean Ave. The nearest subway is Parkside Ave. This map indicates these locations.

We also have a new entry fee structure for 2014. In a nutshell, we’d really like it if you register online. In order to “incentivize” you, we are increasing in-person registration at the park to $10, cash only. This is due to the additional effort required for last-minute data entry. It’s a lot easier for us if you sign up in advance. It helps us produce the results quicker and with much greater accuracy – improving the race for all.

Until June 3rd, you can register online for the entire series – all 8 races – for only $25. When you pay for the entire series up front, you will receive a bib with a timing chip that you will use at each race. Bibs are non-transferable. **If you don’t bring your bib, you will have to pay the in-person registration fee of $10.**

If you don’t want to sign up for the entire series, you can register online for any of the 8 scheduled dates, until 3 pm on each race day. Online entry fee is $5. You’ll still be able to make a last-minute decision to race and save some cash!

Also if you want to sign up a large group and pay all at once, please email theteam@nycruns.com in advance of the race. They will be happy to accommodate you.

Number pick-up and in-person registration start at 6 pm. In person sign up closes at 6:45 pm and the race starts as soon as possible after that. We make an announcement and head to the start as a group. Timing mats will only be at the finish line, so don’t be late. Following the race we will distribute awards at the Peristyle. Results will be posted at here.

We race rain or shine but thunderstorms make last minute cancellations a possibility. The decision to cancel will be made from the park at the start of the race. We don’t cancel the race because of a forecast.

You don’t have to be fast to enter, but these races will help you find out how fast you can be. You don’t have to run to have fun either, instead you can support your fellow runners by being a volunteer. Email membership@pptc.org if you want to volunteer.

We had perfect weather for our annual picnic on Saturday, June 15! It was a great morning for camaraderie, laughter, and catching up with friends old and new. The crush of red singlets and shirts contrasted nicely with the beautiful early-summer green of our home park.

Team G, composed of speedsters Jason Fleischauer, Liesje Hodgson, and Frank DeLeo, led from start to finish. Teams J and H had a showdown coming into the finish line, with team J holding the edge for silver.

The thermometer was a few ticks below freezing when the gun went off at 10 a.m. – not a big deal, really. The wind was the bigger story, its gusts of up to 50 miles per hour bringing the chill to the low teens. (Many reported the worst was the ascent up Zoo Hill.) We considered ourselves lucky, though, as the week began with the prediction of another significant winter storm.

650 individual runners and 134 relay teams completed the three loops of Prospect Park. Mike Cassidy (52:18) of Greater New York Running Club and Lauren Perkins (1:03:35) of the New York Harriers took home top solo honors, while four relay teams (two from Central Park Track Club – New Balance and two from Front Runners New York) broke the hour mark.

We’re still thawing out our fingers, so we’ll leave it at that for now. Expect to see more here and on our blog in the coming days.

The Prospect Park Track Club would like to thank all the participants in the 2010 Cherry Tree 10 Miler and Relay. Results can be found here and corrections or comments can be directed to CherryTree@pptc.org

I am also so sorry we ran out of water when Tracy Finished. We got more but I know that does not make it better.

Moz enjoyed some “celebratory 32 oz stryofoam cups of bud.”at Farrells after the race. That is a good plan.

Our own Hills are my friends, found that “Getting there early and working registration got me excited to run and also made me much more relaxed when I got to the start – it took the pressure off.” We really appreciated that help!

Steven W. Thinks it went alright, “Considering I was working on little sleep and had 5 drinks last night”. He woulda beat me!

Scott Cearned a PR! He said , “Unfortunately, due to the size of the NYRR events, I’m definitely starting to look elsewhere for my races, and this one was a blast. Great job by Prospect Park Track Club.” We are glad to be there for you Scott.

The Brooklyn Beast conquered. He sure did. The day before he ran to and back Central Park to do the Haiti Run. I am glad he took a shower!